How the Christie scandal unfolded

updated 10:00 AM EST, Tue February 25, 2014

From the CNN Political Unit

It started with a massive traffic jam at the New Jersey entrance to the George Washington Bridge and became a massive scandal that threatens to topple the presidential ambitions of a rising political star. Here is how the scandal engulfing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie developed:

Full timeline of events

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August 13, 2013

Christie Chief of Staff Bridget Ann Kelly emails David Wildstein, a Christie appointee to the Port Authority and tells him, "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee."

Fort Lee emergency services coordinator Paul Favia writes Sokolich telling him of the traffic jam's effect on emergency services. He cites a 91-year-old woman who was in cardiac arrest. The woman’s family later says the slow response did not cause her death.

On the second morning of the closures, Sokolich apparently sent a text to Baroni: "Presently we have four very busy traffic lanes merging into only one toll booth. ... The bigger problem is getting kids to school. Help please. It's maddening."

NorthJersey.com columnist John Cichowski asks Sokolich about the lane closures. The mayor replies, "I've asked the Port for an explanation, but they haven't responded, I thought we had a good relationship. Now I'm beginning to wonder if there's something I did wrong. Am I being sent some sort of message?"

In an email obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Foye blasts the lane closings, calling them, "abusive" and pledged to investigate "how PA process was wrongfully subverted and the public interest damaged to say nothing of the credibility of this agency."

October 2, 2013

John Wisniewski, chairman of the state Assembly’s transportation committee, announces an investigation into the lane closings.

CNN and other outlets obtain explosive emails that show communications between a number of Christie advisers. The emails give the scandal that had been simmering in New Jersey new legs and a national profile for the first time.

Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer first goes public on MSNBC with her allegation that top Christie administration officials conditioned Superstorm Sandy aid for her town on her support for a redevelopment project backed by the governor.

On the same "Ask the Governor" show, Christie again says he knew nothing about the lane closings before they happened. "Nobody has said that I knew anything about this before it happened, and I think that’s the most important question," he says.

Hundreds of pages of court documents reviewed by CNN raise questions about Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer's allegations against Christie and whether she deals in the same "pay-to-play" politics she's alleging against him.

Extension granted to Christie's reelection committee until February 24 to produce documents subpoenaed by the state legislative committee investigating the lane closures, according to a letter obtained by CNN’s Chris Frates.

The response is pending an opinion from the Election Law Enforcement Commission. Available documents will be provided on a rolling basis, the letter said.

David Wildstein, a former top Port Authority official who's is suspected of shutting down lanes to the country's busiest bridge in a possible act of political retribution, is expected to respond to his subpoena by about Feb. 10, according to the letter.

Sarah Palin tells "Inside Edition": "It's hard to be the CEO of an organization and not know what the closest people to you are up to. It's tough not to know. I know when I was mayor and manager of this city and then governor of the state; certainly you know what your top aides are up to."

Chris Christie spends President's Day weekend in Puerto Rico with his family, while New Jersey digs out of storm. "After the storm had passed, the governor left the state this morning for a long weekend away with his family, and he will return Monday night," said spokesman Colin Reed.